Chapter 18: Day Fourteen, 4 January

It’s with a certain degree of sadness that Madame Faye and I must depart today. I complete the usual morning routine with the exception of the laundry. That will need to wait until we reach our respective destination. Although I brought a regular top and jeans to wear on my return journey, I ask Madame Faye if I may wear the leather harness I wore on the inbound journey, and return it to her later. My reason for doing so is purely selfish. I want to hang onto the erotic sensation it provides as long as possible. To my surprise, she tells me that the harness is mine to keep, so she doesn’t care if I wear it under my coat. I also get to keep my collar, although she promises to unlock it before we check out. I’ve already discovered that it is all but impossible for me to remove it on my own.

I reflect on how Madame Faye’s and my relationship has developed over the last fortnight. We have spent a lot of time discussing and agreeing several important issues. We both accept that neither of us feel a romantic attachment to the other, but agree that our time together satisfies a carnal need in each of us. We have promised to keep in touch, although I am not sure that we will. The family problem she alluded to before will apparently require her to spend extended periods with her mother in Europe.

To some extent I’m now left to develop my fetishes on my own. Which I suppose isn’t entirely true. Madame Lash still employs me on a casual basis to advise and encourage her new submissive clients. I’ve learned a lot from her. And I’ve several new friends and acquaintances at university with compatible fetishes to my own. A few of those friends may offer new channels to develop my kinky lifestyle. If Madame Faye is correct, then even my roommate, heterosexual Leigh, has shown herself to be willing to help.

While I put on my leather harness, I chicken out and wear my regular clothes over the top. That’s partly because of the bitterly cold weather, and partly to avoid any awkward revelations at the other end when I remove my coat. Madame Faye and I board the boat with the others who are departing today. The boat is full, which means about half of those who were on the island over Christmas and New Year will now have departed. We find a pair of seats behind Madame Melody and Drippy. Although we are officially no longer labelled by our caste, it is hard to make the transition so quickly. Madame Faye and I keep up a light casual conversation with the others. It at least avoids renewing any difficult discussions about our future liaison. I’m not completely happy about what we ultimately agreed but I’m in no position to insist on more. I still feel obligated to repay the debt I owe Madame Faye, despite her insistence that nothing further is due. I lost that battle and I suppose I’ll accept it in time.